New Ulm weekly review., 1887-10-05
Hope For Poor Young Men.

President Marvin Hughiut, OF the
Chicago and Northwestern Railroad.
and President w. B. Strong, of the
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe, the
heads OF thet great railroads OF
the country, started as telegraph op.
orators. The latter began as oper.
ator at Milton, Wis, on the old Nil.
waukee and ST. Paul Railroad, and
the former at smalistation on the
Chicago and Alton Railroad. These
are the only two big railroaders out
here who started on their career from
the keyboard. There are g dozen OF
the most prominent men in the pro.
fession, railroad presid nts most oil
them, who graduated from the civil
engineering Departments President
Newell 81 the Lake Shore, began as a
/ rodman. So did President Roberts,
OF the Pennsylvania system. he
neiped carry the chain for the
engineers who built the ERIC
road. Hugh Riddle, for so many
years at the head Of the Rock Island
and now a member OF the Executive
committee, grew up from the civil en-.
gineerlng department. General Man.
ager Z. j. Potter, of the Union Pacific,
was a lineman before he became
country station agent on the B. g. M.
Railroad. President T. B. Blackstone.
OF the Chicago and Alton, began his
rallroading by acting as roadman on
the New York & New Haven road.
The late S. S. Merrill, who was given
higher rank than almost any other
Western raidroader, didn't BEGIN even
as a humble member Of the civil en-
geneeffhg corps, He started in on
gravel train as q conductor. That
was on the old Prairie du Chieh road.
j. c.. Clarke. of the Illinois Central,
who has just retired from the presid-
ency, was fireman on an engine. a.
c. Bird, one OF the best esteemed men
on the ST. Paul. began as truckman
IN the bagggagge-room of the st. Louis
and Indianapolis Railroad. Com
missioner Midgley, of the Southwest
ern pool, the highest priced commits.
sloner outside OF New York, began his
experience with railroads as stenog.
rapher IN the Illinois Central Offices.
Commissioner George r. Blanchard.
OF the Central Traffic pool, is one
of the large number who began as
a clerk in the freight Of
fees. Vice-President Galloway, who
has just left the Union Pacific, was
years ago a freight clerk forthe Grand
Trunk. Elijah Smith, of the @. r..
began us a clerk for the chairman oi
the Board OF Directors OF the Chicago.
burlington and Quincy. Genera!
Passenger Agent Ruggles graduated
from a clerkship in freight Office.
and Treasurer Purdy, now vice presi.
dent OF the Rock Island, years aac got
about $50 month for keeping books
and occasionally helping with the
freight in the Illinois Central Offices.
superintendent Jetfsry, of the Illinois
Central. started in as an Office bow in
The Sos President Jim Hill of the
Manitoba, Was local agent for ten
years for q little road at st. Paul.
Hannaford. the general freight agent
Of the Northern Pacific, was once
drawing the salary of q $8OO-a-year
treleht clerk. COMMISSIONS George
+. Daniels WAS q rodman in his earIv
days. Division Superinteni.
ent Chamberlain, one of the best liked
men on the Rock Island, began his
llfe on the rail rs conductor on thu
New York Third avenue street rall
way line. Horace Tucker. now the
,aneral freight agent Of the Illinois
Central, and General Manager T.. ST
John OF the Rock Island, both beear
by helping in the ticket offices O.
small roads.